David Edmond Neuberger, Lord Neuberger of Abbostsbury took up appointment as President of the Supreme Court on 1 October 2012, succeeding Lord Philips. He held this position for five years, before retiring in 2017.

Lord Neuberger has since been elected as an honorary Fellow of the Royal Society in 2017 and is an honorary Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Lord Neuberger became a Patron of the Aberdeen Law Project in 2023. Commenting on his appointment, he said:

“With the current political and technological challenges at home and abroad, the rule of law has never been more important. And in an increasingly complex and regulated world, giving citizens access to legal advice and representation has never been more necessary. The Aberdeen Law Project therefore deserves strong support. It enables students to appreciate, and to participate in, the rule of law throughout the justice system, this helps them to become more valuable  members of society, and it is very useful experience for their future careers. Over and above that, it is of enormous benefit to the many people who have no other means of getting access to justice. I am proud to be associated with the Project and the many students involved with it.”

Robert John Reed, Lord Reed of Allermuir took up appointment as President of the Supreme Court on 13 January 2020, succeeding Lady Hale. Prior to his appointment as President, Lord Reed served as Deputy President of the Supreme Court from June 2018 after first being appointed as a Justice in February 2012.

Lord Reed studied at the University of Edinburgh after which he undertook doctoral research in law at the University of Oxford.

Lord Reed became a Patron of The Aberdeen Law Project in 2022. Commenting on his appointment, he said:

"The Aberdeen Law Project is a remarkable student-led project. Its volunteers provide a vital link between the community and the legal system, by improving access to justice and by working with schools, prisons, the police, women’s aid and other organisations. I am filled with admiration for the passion and dedication of the students involved."

Lord David Hope read Classics at Cambridge University before studing Law at The University of Edinburgh. In 1965, he was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates where he served as Advocate Depute from 1978 and then Dean from 1986. He was appointed Queen's Council in 1978.

From 1985 until 1986, Lord Hope served as Chairman of the Medical Appeal Tribunal and the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. In 1989, he was appointed to the Bench directly from the Bar as Lord Justice General of Scotland and Lord President of the Court of Session. In 1992, he made courtroom history by permitting an experiment in televising trials in Scottish courts for documentary purposes.

Prior to 1996, Lord Hope has practiced at the Scottish Bar for 24 years. In this year, he was appointed as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and served as such until 2009. In 2009, he briefly served as Second Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary before becoming the first Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in 2009.

Lord Hope retired from the Supreme Court in September 2013.

Lord Hope became a Patron of The Aberdeen Law Project in 2013. Commenting on his appointment, he said,

"I was delighted to have been asked, as The Project is such an imaginative project. The study of law is at its best when it is linked to how the law works out in practice. The more that can be done to bring students into close contact with the way cases are being handled every day in our courts and tribunals the better. The Project offers that opportunity to everyone who takes part in it and I wish it all success in what it seeks to achieve."

Dame Hazel Genn is Dean of Laws, Professor of Socio-Legal Studies and Co-Director of the University College London Judicial Institute in the Faculty of Law at University College London, where she is also an Honorary Fellow. 

She previously held a Chair and was Head of the Department of Law at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. Before joining London University, she held full-time research posts at Oxford University Centre for Socio-Legal Studies between 1974 and 1985 and the Cambridge Institute of Criminology between 1972 and 1974. In January 2006, she was appointed as an Inaugural Commissioner of the new Judicial Appointments Commission established under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and was a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life between 2003 and 2007. In April 2009, she was appointed to the Secretary of State's Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity.

Dame Hazel worked with the Judicial Studies Board for 12 years, serving as a member of the Main Board and the Tribunals Committee and contributed to the design and delivery of training for the judiciary at all levels. She served for 8 years as Deputy Chair and then Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council's Research Grants Board. In 2008, she was elected Honorary Mast of the Bench of Gray's Inn.

Following a visit to The Aberdeen Law Project in 2011, Dame Hazel became a Patron. In a press release announcing her appointment, she said,

"I am grateful for the invitation to become a Patron of The Project. It was great to meet the students and hear about the work involved with The Project. I was very impressed and want to be supportive and thus accepted the role as Patron of The Aberdeen Law Project."

Mr Martin Gilbert is a director of a number of investment trusts, Chairman of FirstGroup Plc and a Non-Executive Director of British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc. He is Adjunct Professor of Finance at Imperial College Business School and a member of the Scottish Government's Financial Services Advisory Board, the EFAMA President's Advisory Council and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

In December 2008, Mr Gilbert was named European Personality of the Year at the Funds Europe Awards. In 2009, he was named Ernst & Young Overall Scotland Entrepreneur Of The Year. In 2011, he was named Scotland PLC CEO of the Year at the Business Insider/PWC Scotland PLC Awards.

Mr Gilbert became a Patron of The Aberdeen Law Project in 2010. He commented at the time,

"As a graduate of The University of Aberdeen Law School, and a businessman based within the Granite City, I am aware of the access to justice problems that exist in the North-East.

"The Aberdeen Law Project, aiming as it does to assist in tackling this problem, is an extremely admirable venture, which is all of the more impressive given that it is founded and run by students.

"I decided to accept Mr Whelan's invitation to become a Patron of The Aberdeen Law Project because I was thoroughly impressed by the ambition, organisation and determination that these students have shown in creating such a resource for the North-East of Scotland.

"Their early achievements are impressive, but I have no doubt that this Project will have many more successes in the years ahead - I am delighted to act as a patron for this organisation."

Lord Nicol Stephen is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. He graduated from The University of Aberdeen in 1980 with an LLB. Lord Stephen became the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeen South and was the leader of the Scottish Liberal Demoncrats from 2005 to 2008. He is a former Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning.

He became a Patron of The Aberdeen Law Project in 2011.

"I am delighted that I can lend my support to The Aberdeen Law Project. I am certain that The Project  will be of great benefit to people in the North-East."

Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC, is the first Advocate Depute and Senior Advocate Depute to be appointed from within the Procurator Fiscal Service. He is the second non-advocate appointed to the office of Lord Advocate. 

Mr. Mulholland graduated with an LLB in 1981 from The University of Aberdeen. Receiving a Diploma in Legal Practice in 1982, he completed his traineeship with a firm in Glasgow, then joined the Procurator Fiscal Service in 1984.

In 1991 he transferred to the Crown Office, working as a Solicitor in the High Court Unit and then qualified as a Solicitor-Advocate in 1995. Moreover, he became District Procurator Fiscal in 2000 and remained in office at Edinburgh until 2003 when he returned to the ranks of Crown Counsel as Senior Advocate Depute. In 2005, Mr. Mulholland was appointed Queen’s Counsel. 

In 2007 then First Minister Alex Salmond appointed Mr. MulhollandSolicitor General. He was appointed Lord Advocate in 2011. In June 2013, Mr. Mulholland was awarded an honorary degree from The University of Aberdeen. 

Mr. Mulholland became a Patron of the Aberdeen Law Project in 2015.

Dame Anne Begg

Former Labour mp

Dame Anne Begg was Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South between 1997 and 2015. Prior to this Dame Anne was a teacher in Kirriemuir and Arbroath. She was appointed DBE in the 2011 New Year’s Honours List for services to disabled persons and equal opportunities.  

Commenting on her appointment as a patron, Dame Anne said:

"I am delighted to become a Patron of the Aberdeen Law Project. One of the things I was actually conscious of when I was an MP was that access to good legal advice and help is crucial in making sure everyone has equal access to justice.  However, for some people who don't qualify for Legal Aid, which has been cut in recent years, getting legal advice and help is beyond their ability to pay. The Aberdeen Law Project can – and does - help in these circumstances, while giving vital practical experience to the law students who are members of the Project.  ALP also engages with local communities in Aberdeen, providing information and practical assistance, empowering those who might be faced with legal issues. 

"I particularly like that the Aberdeen Law Project is student founded, led and operated. The work the project does is extremely impressive and valuable, helping and empowering those in need while giving the students experiences that will make them better lawyers when they go into practice. I really am pleased to have become involved."  

Professor Ross graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1979 and has spent her career there in various capacities. She became a part-time tutor in 1980 while she was working in legal practice in Aberdeen before joining the Law School full time in 1992.

Professor Ross is an avid researcher with interests in the law of evidence, procedures in courts and tribunals, and dispute resolution. Following her retirement in 2020, Professor Ross received emeritus status at the university and will continue her research.

In addition to her academic work, Professor Ross has been a member of both the University of Aberdeen’s Senate and Court as well as an independent reporter for the court in adoption applications, Chair of Family Mediation Grampian, Vice Chair of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland and a past Chair of Grampian Research Ethics Committee

Professor Ross has been involved with ALP since it was founded by Ryan Whelan in 2009.

Ryan Whelan

Founder of ALP and Senior Associate, Gibson Dunn

Ryan Whelan is an associate in the London and Dubai offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation and International Arbitration groups. Ryan was voted LexisNexis Legal Personality of the Year (2020) and is the AllBright ChangeMaker Man (2020). He has also been recognised in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers list (2019, Europe), as the Law Society Gazette’s Lawyer in the News (2019), and as The Time’s Lawyer of the Week (2018).

Ryan graduated from The University of Aberdeen, receiving the Cruickshank Prize for graduating top of his class with First Class Honours. In his Senior Honours year Ryan was elected to serve as the President of the Law Society. He also founded the award winning Aberdeen Law Project, a pro bono organisation that educates, represents and advises the economically disadvantaged. In 2020, Ryan founded and launched ProBonoSkills.com – a first of its kind training platform for students involved in pro bono.

Ryan’s contribution to pro bono in Scotland led to him being selected to run with the Olympic Torch ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. His pro bono work on the Gina Martin upskirting campaign has been commended in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. He has also received several prestigious pro bono awards, including one from the Attorney General of England & Wales (2011) and the Gibson Dunn Frank Wheat award (2019).